Water-sprinkler



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetn 1.

W. M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER.

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W, M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER'.

No. 436,406. Patented Sept. 16. 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. M. ECOLES. WATER SPRINKLER.

N6. 466,466. Patented S6136. 16, 1660.

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y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM M. ECCIIES, OF'S'FQLOUIS, MISSOURI.

WATER-SPRINKLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,406, datedSeptember 16, 1890.

Application filed April 7, 1890. Serial No. 346,962. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLTAM M. ECOLES, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis,in the State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in VVatenSprinklers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to Water-sprinklers; and 1t consists, first, inmeans for utilizing a fixed and continuous quantity of compressed air orother yielding substance confined in an air-tight reservoir to forcewater from a waterreservoir; second, it consists in means for utilizingthe water-pressure in water-mains to force the water from portablewatenreservoirs for sprinkling and other purposes; third, it furtherconsists in means for securing approximately uniform pressure on thewater in the portable water-reservoir during its entire discharge fromthe same 5 fourth,`it also consists in means for forcing water byapproximately equable pressure from a portable water-reservoir onto astreet or the ground a greater distance than could be done by force ofits own gravity without extra draft on the team, and, fifth, it furtherconsists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to secure uniform pressure onthe water in a portable water-reservoir during the entire discharge ofthe water therefrom; second, to util` ize the pressure of water which ithas in streetmains to expel it from aportable water-reservoir onto astreet or the ground; third, to expel water from a water-reservoir bymeans of a fixed and continuing quantity of compressed air confined inan air-chamber; fourth, to expel the water from a portableWater-reservoir over the street with approximately the same pressurewhich it has in the water-mains and by which it is forced into thereservoir, and, fifth, to expel water from a portable water-reservoirinto the street, without increasing the draft of the truck carrying thesame, with suficient force to throw the water a greater distance than itcould be thrown by its own gravity. I attain these objects by themechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure I is aside elevation of my sprinkler. Fig. II is an end elevation of the same.Fig.

III is a vertical section of the sprinkler drawn on line 3 3, Fig. IV.Fig. IV is a plan view of the sprinkler. Fig. V is a side elevation ofone of the sprinkling-nozzles detached from the sprinkler. Fig. VI is aplan view of the same. Fig. VII is a longitudinal section of the nozzle,its connecting-pipe and valve, drawn on line VII VII in Fig. VIII. Fig.

VIII is a longitudinal section drawn on line VIII VIII in Fig. VII.

A is the running-gear of a four-wheeled truck, consisting of frame,arched side sills A, front and hind axles A2 G, and fifth-wheel A4, allmounted on wheels and adapted to carry a water-reservoir andair-reservoir and mechanism connected therewith.

B is a water-reservoir made of uniform diameter on the inside. It issecurely fastened, preferably in an upright position, to therunning-gear A in any suitable manner and is placed near the ground, inorder that the weight may be near the ground, and in order that thesprinkling-nozzles may also be near the ground, so as to throw the waterbeneath passing vehicles, and not onto them. This Water-reservoir isprovided with an inlet t, communicating with the interior of theWater-reservoir and situated near the bottom of the same and adapted tobe connected. with a street Water-main of ordinary water-works by anordinary connecting-hose, whereby the water from street-mains can flowinto the waterreservoir B.

b is an ordinary checlcvalve situated in the body of the inlet l),operating to prevent the Water from flowing out of the reservoir throughthe inlet l), but which will permit it to flow in through the same. Thewater-reservoir is also providedwith two outlet-pipes C C, which connectthe sprinkling-nozzles with the water-reservoir and lmake an openconnection between the interiors of the nozzles and the interior of thereservoir, so as to permit the iiow of water from the reservoir into andthrough the sprinklingnozzles. The Whole bottom of the water-reservoir Bis preferably made of one piece of cast-iron, having the neck of theinlet cast integral therewith, as shown. connected interiorly with thereservoir B near the bottom, and to each of vthese outlets at theirouter ends is fastened a con necting-pipe IOO A. To the other arm ofthis double-crank lever E is pivotally connected a crank-rod E at oneend and at the other end the crank-rod is connected to the free end ofthe crank-lever F, which is secured to the end of a treadlerod- F',journaled in the front part of the running-gear A. This treadle-rod isbent out, so as to form a treadle f for the driver to operate the valveswith by pressure of the foot on the foot-treadle.

N is a sprinkling-nozzle having a neck N and a mouth N2. The neck isadapted to screw over the end of the connecting-pipe C', and is providedwith a set screw S, which serves to hold the nozzle N in any fixedposition on the connecting-pipe C. The mouth of this nozzle is made byextending the walls of the neck into disk-shaped walls having the lipsslightly separated at their rear and side portions when attached to theconnectingpipes C in place on the sprinkler, operating to throw thewater out under pressure in a .thin and approximately horizontal sheet.

This nozzle is rendered adjustable by the setscrew S, and may be turnedat pleasure on the connecting-pipe C', so as to direct the sheet ofWater low or high, asdesired, or deflect it from ahorizontalcourse. Thisrotatable adjustment of the nozzle enables the operator to direct thatpart of the sheet of water which passes out at the side of the nozzleand which is directed toward the curb of the street either high or low,to suit the pressure on the water and direct the sheet of water just tothe curb yand no further. By driving in the middle of the street and bythus adjusting the nozzles to suit the pressure which may happen to bein the street-mains where the machine is being used he will be enabledto sprinkle from curb to curb and not throw the water on the sidewalk,which is very desirable in a sprinkler.

The rear portion of the frame of the running-gear has a jaw-shapedattachment d, adapted to encompass a movable box g, which moves up anddown between the jaws and through which the hind axle G passes. Insertedbetween this box and the base of the j aW-shaped attachment a is arubber spring s to relieve the axle from jar. Inserted between the lowerpart of this block and the brace-bar H is another rubber spring s',which prevents the rebound.

The interior of the water-reservoir Bis provided with a piston orpressure head P, lit-ting the interior of the water-reservoir and packedwith a hydraulic packing p, which renders the pressure-head water-tightas it moves up and down in the interior of the water-reservoir. Thishydraulic packing p consists of a strip of leather, which surrounds thehead and has its lower edge pressed out against the side of thewater-reservoir by the pressure of the water against its inside surface,so as to prevent the water' from passing up between the side of thereservoir and the outside of the leather. The lower edge of theperiphery of the piston-head is rounded oft', sopas to facilitate theoutward pressure of the water against the packing. This piston orpressure lead is provided with a piston-rod P securely connecting itwith another smaller pistonhead1. This smaller piston-head is alsoprovided with an air-tight packing p', which packing is preferably madeof'leather and in construction like the packing p. This piston-head isadapted to move up and down in its air-tight cylinder J in unison withthe piston-head P. This cylinder J is made of metal with a smooth bore,and is preferablyy incased within the air-reservoir K which surroundsit. Its interior communicates with the interior of the reservoir K byopen connections or holes h, near the top of the same, sufiicientlylarge and numerous to allow a free passage ot' compressed air or otheriiuid from the interior of the reservoir into the cylinder .I as thepiston-head1)2 descends, and a free passage of the same compressed airback from the cylinder P2 to the interior of the airreservoir K as thepiston-head p2 ascends. This air-reservoir is supplied with an inletpipeT, provided with appropriate means for attaching a hose on its outerend, and with a common leather check-valve T on its inner end, andserves to make an open communication between an ordinaryiair-pump andthe interior of the air-reservoir and allow compressed air to pass intothe reservoir and retain it there. It is also provided with an ord inarypressure-gage M, which communicates with the interior of the airreservoir and serves to register the pressure of air in saidair-reservoir. This air-reservoir is held securely to the top ot' thewater-reservoir by tierods V V, which pass through projections or lugson the top plate of the air-reservoir K, and down the outside of thereservoir,through the side pieces A of the running-gear A, and throughsimilar lugs or projections V2 V2 on the bottom plate ot thewater-reservoir B. These rods not only serve to hold the two reservoirstogether, but by means of nuts n and collars n', the one below and theother IOC:

IIO

above the side piece A on the rods V V, serve to hold the two reservoirsin place on the running-gear.

O is seat for the driver.

When the operator desires to sprinkle, he presses his foot on the pedalf and opens the valve D, through the medium of the system pressure-headP as the pressure of air per square inch on it is desired to be greaterthan the resistance of the Water per square inch is on thepressure-headP; but any variation in the diameter or superficial 'areasof the respective pressure-heads may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

, The object of making the piston-heads of different diameters is tosecure, as near as pcsble, a uniform pressure on the Water of theWater-reservoir as the piston-head P descends Withoutbeing compelled tomake the air-reservoirs K and .I too large and cumbersome. It is obviousthat the greater the difference between the capacity of the air-reservoir K to hold compressed air and the capacity of the cylinder Jfor the same purpose -the less will be the difference between thepressure on the Water when the piston is at the top and when it is atthe bottom of the Water-reservoir. The compressed air then displaced bythe throw of the piston-head P2 mustbe relatively small in proportion tothe Whole body of air used to secure the least possible variance betweenthe pressure With the piston at the top and that with the piston at thebottom of the Water-reservoir, or when it is full and almost empty. Forthis reason the air-reservoir K is made of much larger dimensions thanthe cylinder or smallair-reservoirJ. I prefcrto make the larger oneabout six feet long and about four feet in diameter and the smaller oneabout six feet long and eighteen inches in diameter, and use theserelative sizes With a Water-reservoir about six feet long and four feetin diameter. Then the air-reservoirs are constructed of about the aboverelative dimensions and they are charged with a body of compressed air,the compressed air will exercise, through the medium of thepiston-heads, a pressure on the Water of approximately the same numberof pounds to the square inch when the Water-reserveir is about empty aswhen it is full. l

The relative dimensions of the reservoirs, as above stated, Will cause anear enough uniform pressure on the Water for all practical purposes;but the uniformity may be in creased by making the air-reservoir Krelatively larger than the cylinder J. It is obvious, therefore, thatthe piston-head P2 can be increased in diameter to the full size of thepiston-head P, if the air-reservoir is correspondingly increased in itscapacity, Without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is alsoobvious that the piston-head P2 can be connected With the piston P bygear niechanism or lever attachment, and the two reservoirs set side byside, whereby the pistonhead P2 will only move a portion of the distancealong the cylinder J during the time the piston-head P moves the Wholedistance down the Water-reservoirWithout departing from the spirit of myinvention.

NOW to use my sprinkler, first fill the airreservoir with compressed airto a pressure of air that will give a pressure on the pistonhead P alittle less than the pressure in the street Water-mains from which youdesire to take the Water. Then from the connection With the streetWater-main and the inlet-pipe l1.'

turn the Water into the Water-reservoir B, and the pressure of the Waterin the Water-main being greater than the resistance of the airpressureon the piston-head P, the pistonhead P will rise until theWater-reservoir is filled with Water and the piston-head P has risen tothe top of the water-reservoir. The water then is shut off and theconnection between the street Water-main and the inletpipe is severed,and the sprinkler is ready to go on the street. When the operator opensthe valve D with his foot, the Water rushes out through thesprinkling-nozzle with a pressure slightly less than the pressure in thestreet water-main from which it was taken, and-.Will continue to so flowwith approximately uniform pressure until the pistonhead P has reachedthe bottom and t-he Water has been all expelled from the water-reservoirWithout any loss of compressed air. The process can again be repeatedwith the same effect as before. All the operator has to do is to see toit that the pressure of air in the air-reservoir Will offer a lessresistance per square inch on the piston-head P than the pressure persquare inch in the street Watermain from which he desires to take theWater, and of sufficient pressure to expel the Water from the center ofthe street to the curb. Thus it is evident that the pressure in theWater-main is readily and successfully utilized in expelling the Waterfrom the Waterreservoir onto the street or ground, Without any extradraft or work for the team, by using a confined yielding cushion ofcompressed air or other elastic fluid Within which to store the.pressure in the street Water-mains by adapting it to cause thecompressed air to yield as the Water is forced into a Water-res--ervoir.

By this device I have alight and cheap and durable compressed-air springWhich takes up the pressure in the street Water-mains as the Water isforced into the Water-reservoir and causes the same pressure to act uponthe water to force it out of the reservoir with approximately the sameforce With Which it entered, and by this device, also, is secured theapproximately uniform pressure on the Water during its entire flow fromthe Water-res ervoir, both of which are very essential in a sprinkler.

Now what I claim, and for whichI askLetters Patent of the United Statesto be granted to me, is-

l. A Water-sprinkler consisting of a Waterreservoir provided With asprinkling nozzle or nozzles for the egress of Water, a pistonhead IIOadapted to move to and fro within said Water-reservoir, an air-reservoircontaining a confined body of compressed air or other yieldingsubstance, a piston-head adapted to move to and fro Within saidair-reservoir, and suitable mechanism connecting said two piston-heads,whereby they are caused to move in unison with each other and operate toforce the Water out of the-Water reservoir through the sprinkling-nozzleWith approximately the same force with which it was forced into theWater-reservoir, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a Water-sprinkler, the combination, with a water-reservoir havingnozzles Which communicate with the interior of said reser- Voir, of anair-reservoir adapted to receive and confine a body of air or otherelastic substance, a piston-head for said Water-reservoir, and aconnection between the air-reservoir and the said piston-head, wherebythe pistonhead is normally forced against the volume of Water Within thesaid water-reservoir, for

the purpose shown and described.

3. In a water-sprinkler, two air-tightreservoirs adapted to hold aconfined bodyot compressed air or other elastic substance, one beingsmaller than the other, and having their interiors communicating witheach other vby an open passage-Way, the smaller one being provided witha piston-head adapted to move within it, in combination withanotherreservoir adapted to hold Water under pressure and provided witha piston-head mov-ably arranged therein and connected to thefirstmentioned piston-head by a piston-rod, and with a Water-nozzlehaving its interior communicating with the interior of theWaterreservoir, all combined and operating to discharge Water out of theWater-reservoir through the nozzle with approximately the same forceWhen the reservoir is about empty as when it is full.

4. In a Water-sprinkler, the combination of a Water-reservoir mountedupon a runninggear and adapted to hold water, a Water-nozzlecommunicating interiorly with said Waterreservoir, an inlet-openingcommunicating interiorly with said Water-reservoir and adapted to admitWater from the Water-mains in streets into the water-reservoir underpressure, a movable head situated Within said reservoir and adapted torecede therein with the advance of the incoming water into thereservoir, and means for resist-ing said receding movement of the head,whereby the Water is expelled out of said reservoir th rough the nozzlewith approxi mately the same force with which the entrance of the Waterinto said reservoir was resisted, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a street-sprinkler, the combination of an air-tight reservoir inwhich is stored a fixed q uan tity of air or other analogous elasticiiuid, a Water-reservoir having a movable head, a connection between thehead and air-reser- Voir,`an inlet-opening in the Water-reservoirbeneath the said head for receiving Water under pressure to force thesaid head against the said air-pressure, and outlet-nozzlescommunicating with the interior of the reservoir below the said movablehead, substantially as described.

WILLIAM M. EccLEs. Attest:

FRANCIS VALL, F. A. SIEFERT.

